State police at Bridgeton barracks blotter includes arrests in cycle shop burglary, thermal-imaging camera used to find man who fled crash

State police based at Bridgeton barracks recently released the following information based on their activities between June 7 and June 13.

Of the 591 calls for service handled by troopers at the barracks over the one-week period, 66 investigation reports, 54 general police reports, eight supplemental investigation reports, 21 motor vehicle accident reports and nine reports detailing alleged incidents of domestic violence were generated.

A total of four people were injured in three car accidents over the period.

Bridgeton-based troopers responded to 66 alarms, conducted 36 property checks of area businesses, public facilities and residences, and initiated 80 traffic stops over the seven days.

Two people were charged with driving while intoxicated as a result of those traffic stops.

State police at Bridgeton arrested 15 people on various criminal charges and 18 more on active warrants over the week period.

The barracks’ community affairs troopers conducted nine details during the week, including attendance at township meetings and school-resource responsibilities.

Among the 15 people arrested by Bridgeton-based troopers on criminal charges between June 7 and June 13 were:

* Kenyon Harris, 34, of Bridgeton, who was arrested the early morning of June 12 following a traffic stop at Route 552 and Gershal Avenue in Deerfield Township.Harris initially was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest. He was charged with criminal mischief and a second count of resisting arrest after he allegedly punched a hole in a glass window at Bridgeton barracks after he was processed and released on the initial charges.Harris was lodged in Cumberland County Jail on $6,000 bail.Harris’ passenger, Aazim Love, 30, of Bridgeton, was arrested on a warrant and lodged in the jail.

* Richard C. Smitheman, 26, of Upper Deerfield Township, who was arrested on June 7 and charged with theft, obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct following a domestic dispute at his Husted Station Road home.Smitheman reportedly refused to allow a fellow resident or troopers into the home as the troopers attempted to facilitate the retrieval of the complainant’s property, locking himself inside the home and threatening to release his dogs on the troopers.Smitheman allegedly lunged at and released his dogs on the troopers when they made entry to the home.Smitheman was lodged in Cumberland County Jail on $5,000 bail.

* Matias Ortiz, 22, of Woodstown, who was arrested early the morning of June 11 on the charges of driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest after he allegedly caused a head-on collision with a tractor trailer on Route 77, in Upper Deerfield.Ortiz was arrested about 300 yards into a nearby farm field after troopers found him hiding in a drainage ditch through the use of a thermal-imaging camera. His blood-alcohol content level was 0.25 percent, or more than three times New Jersey’s legal limit (0.08), state police said.A suspected illegal immigrant, Ortiz was lodged in Cumberland County Jail on a detainer issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.No injuries were reported in the accident, according to state police.

On June 14, state police arrested 22-year-old Jorge Fontanez and three juveniles, all of Pamphylia Avenue, Bridgeton, in connection with the burglary of Fairfield Township’s B & B Cycle, located on Bridgeton Fairton Road.

An off-duty trooper observed suspicious activity in the area of the cycle shop, then responding troopers found a cinderblock had been hurled through one of the business’ windows.

Four motorcycles were reported stolen from the business, all of which were recovered.

Fontanez and the three juveniles were charged with burglary, theft and conspiracy.

A fifth suspect has been identified, but had not been apprehended as of Tuesday night, when state police issued the press release.